Extension shelf for refrigerators



March 1%, 1936. O. M. OTT'E 2M3$ EXTENSION SHELF FOR REFRIGERATORSOriginal Filed July 1, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet l i" l N N[ 1 I L1 (L2INVENTOR y M mm L /MW March m, 1936. O, OT E 'zmmw EXTENSION SHELF FORREFRIGERATORS Original Filed July 1, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q T" L FA? LF??? T if? 1;

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INVENTOR Patented Mar. 10, 19 36 PATENT OFFICE EXTENSION SHELF FORREFRIGERATORS Otho M. Otte, Tarentum, Pa... assignor, by mesneassignments, to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York vApplication my 1, 1932. Serial No. 620,434 I Renewed January 23, 1936 13Claims. (01. 211-143) of a refrigerator shelf which affords either fullextension or partial extension, of the provision supporting partsthereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a shelf ofthe character referred to above that may be easily removed from and replaced in refrigerator compartments so that the convenience thereof willact as a stimulus to maintaining the shelf in a sanitary conditionrather than as a deterrent.

Other objects of the invention will, in part,

be apparent and will in partbe obvious from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a more or less diagrammatic view, in front elevation of arefrigerator (the door being removed) showing the relative location ofthe provision shelves embodying the invention; a

Fig. 2 is a view in section, taken on a plane such as indicated by lineII-II of Fig. 1, showing a shelf, embodying one form of the invention,in an extended position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged top view in perspective, of

a. provision shelf such as illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, in section, of one side of the provisionshelf support frame which is shown in plan, in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a view in section showing the relative position of theprovision shelf and the support frame, when the shelf is wholly withinthe compartment of the refrigerator, said section being taken along lineVV of Fig. 2, only a fragment of the refrigerator back wall being shown;

. Fig. 6 is a partial view in section of one side of the support frameand shelf taken on line VI-YI of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a partial view in section taken on lines VII-.-VII of Figs. 2and 5, showing the construction of the forward endof the shelf andsupport frame, and the manner in which the support frame is mounted onthe refrigerator side walls;

Fig. 8 is a view in section of the support frame looking towards theback wall of the refrigerator compartment, showing the method by whichthe rear end of the support frame is held in operative position; I

Fig. 9 is a view in section of the refrigerator such as shown in Fig. 2but .in which the refrigerator compartment is provided with. a modified5 form of provision shelf which afiords full extension with respect tothe compartment;

Fig. 10 is a view in section taken along the line X'X of Fig. 9,illustrating the construction of one side of the provision shelf and itsmethod of 10 mounting;

Fig. 11 is a, view in section taken along line XI-XI of Fig. 9 showingthe construction of the provision shelf and the method of mounting thesame on a movable support frame; 15

Fig. 12 is a view in section taken on line XII-J11 of Fig. 9 showing themanner in which a stationary support frame is mounted on the side wallof the refrigerator and the forward mounting or the movable supportframe; 23

Fig. 13 is a view taken on line X[IIXI[I of Fig. 9 showing the movablesupport frame and the stationary support frame and the method ofmounting the one on the other:

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of one side of thestationary and movable support frame showing the method of mounting ofthe movable frame on the stationary frame;

Fig. 15 is a view in section of one side of the 30 movable andstationary support frames looking in the direction of arrows XV-XV ofFig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary view in side elevation showing one side of themovable support frame and the provision shelf and the method whereby 5the rear end of the provision shelf is mounted on the movable supportframe; and

Fig. 17 is a view in section taken on line XV'IL-XV'JI of Fig. 16showing the method of mounting the rear end of the provision shelf on 40the movable support frame.

Throughout the drawings and the specification, similar referencecharacters indicate like parts.

With reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a refrigerator is shown havinga plurality of pro- 45 vision shelves I mounted, one above the other andin parallel relation in the provision compartment thereof. The shelvesare supported at their forward ends on nubbins or projections 2 formedon the refrigerator side walls and at their rear 50 ends in niches orrecesses 3 formed in the back wall.

In this application, two forms of shelf, embodying the invention, areillustrated, one form being illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, and55 wall of the refrigerator compartment.

the other form being shown in Figs. 9 to 1'7, inclusive.

In the form illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive, the provision shelf4 is adapted to be extended more than half its length through the dooropening of the refrigerator. Extension of this order is sufficient forthe ordinary household refrigerator of average depth, that is, asmeasured from front to back.

The form illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17, inclusive, is designed to givefull extension of the provision shelf through the door opening. Fullextension provision shelves could obviously be used in theaforementioned household refrigerator, but are more advantageous withrefrigerators requiring close spacing of the shelves, and where thecompartments are of more than average depth as measured from front toback.

In the drawings both forms of the invention are illustrated inconjunction with refrigerators of the same depth in order to show bycomparison the actual extensions that each provides. However, it is tobe understood that the relative advantages of one over the other for theparticular applications referred to above, are appreciated andcontemplated herein.

The extension or roll-away shelf illustrated in Figs. 2 to 8, inclusive,comprises two major parts, the traveling provision shelf or frame I andthe support frame 5. The support frame includes a back rail orconnecting bar 6 and side rails 'I and 8. The rails may be made from asingle or continuous piece of rod of either stainless steel or rustlessiron, bent in the form of a U conforming substantially to the contour ofthe refrigerator compartment in plan. The side rails may be formed withupwardly extending bends 8' of somewhat inverted U shape, at theirforward ends, to accommodate the nubbins or projections 2 on which theforward ends of the support frame side rails are mounted. The back railof the support frame has rearwardly extending loops 9 formed thereinthat extend into recesses or recessed nubbles, knobs, or bosses 3 of therear When the provision shelf is wholly within the compartment, thebottom ledges of the recesses support the rear end of the support frame,and when extended, as in Fig. 2, the upper ledges prevent the rear endthereof from tilting upwardly.

As shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 7, the forward end of the support frame siderails, including the lower I ends of the inverted U-bends 8' are bentinwardly, that is away from the adjacent side walls. At the extremeforward ends of the side rails, short trunnions III of L-shape areformed to accommodate wheels or rollers II having concave rims. Thetrunnions may constitute an integral part of the support frame siderails, or they may be separately fabricated and welded thereto. Thepurpose and function of these rollers will be described hereinafter.

The provision shelf or frame 4 may be designed in numerous ways,however, the type illustrated is preferred. The provision shelf, asshown, com-.

prises side rails l2, connected fore and aft by members IS. The siderails I2 and members I3 may be made from round rod, of stainless steelor rustless iron, as a single piece or unit.

The platform or floor of the shelf may be made up from rods I4, theopposite ends of which are welded or otherwise secured to the front andrear members l3, and rods l5. Rods l5 are purposely made longer thanrods I4, so that the ends thereof may be bent upwardly to form posts I6to which a rear fence rail I1 and a front fence rail I8 may be attached.Fence rail I'I extends only across the back of the provision shelf,while the front rail extends across the front and along the sides toapproximately the rear ends of the side rails l2, to which it issecured. In order to rigidify the provision shelf floor, a brace rod I9is attached, as by spot welding, to the undersides of rods I4 and I5,the rods running crosswise thereof and terminating short of the siderails I2.

The fence rails I1 and I8 prevent articles placed on the shelf floorfrom slipping or falling off the same as the shelf is moved to or fromthe refrigerator compartment.

As may be seen in Figs. 2, 5 and 7, the side rails I2 of the provisionshelf are disposed on the concave rims of rollers or wheels I I, andmove back and forth thereon as the shelf is moved to or from therefrigerator compartment. As is apparent from Fig. 7, the rollers II aredisposed atsuch a distance below side rails I and 8 that the side railsl2 lie in substantially the same horizontal plane as contains the siderails I and 8 of the support frame. For this reason, the distancebetween the side rails l2 of the provision shelf is made less than thedistance between side rails I and 8, so that there may be adequateclearance therebetween for easy operation.

The rear corners of the provision shelf 4 are provided with a pair ofrollers or wheels 20, 2| for supporting the rear end of the provisionshelf on the side rails I and 8 of the support frame. As shown, theupper rollers 20 are disposed slightly forward of the lower rollers 2|and ride on the top side of the support frame side rails. The lowerrollers 2| are disposed under the support frame side rails, so that asthe provision shelf approaches its extended position, as in Fig. 2, thelower rollers bear on the underside of the support frame side rails andprevent tipping of the provision shelf aboutrollers I.

As may be seen in Fig. 6, the upper rollers 20 are mounted on the siderails I2 by means of trunnions 22 of somewhat L-shape so that the siderails I2 at the rear end of the provision shelf will lie insubstantially the same plane as the support frame side rails. The lowerrollers 2| are mounted on trunnions 23 of somewhat L- shape, so that therollers will be disposed slightly below the side rails I2. It will benoted that the trunnions 22 and 23 together form in the nature of aU-shape structure which supports the rollers 2| and 22 in a staggeredrelationship with respect to each other. Each of the rollers rails bymeans of screws 25.

when the plates 24 are in the position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 7. oneside thereof abuts the adjacent side wall of the refrigerator, therebyspringingthe support rails I and 8 into parallelism. The inherentresiliency of the rear corners of the support frame therefore holds theforward ends of the rails in snug engagement with the side walls of therefrigerator so that as the rollers 20, port frame guide rails. and. theside rails II of the provision shelf and support rollers ii.

of the provision shelf, so that'the shelf cannot be tilted upwardly, inoperation, to thereby accidentally disengage the rollers Ii. a

Since the platform or floor of the --provision shelf lies insubstantially the same plane as con 2, until rollers 20 engage loops 8'.It is there fore apparent that loops 8 serve a double function,-.i. e.,as means to support the-forward end of the support frame on the sidewalls of' the refrigerator compartment and also as stops for limitingthe forward movement of the provision shelf.

The full-extension type shelf illustrated in Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive,comprises in general three main parts, a'stationarysupport frame 5, suchasdescribed in connection with Figs. 2to -8 inclusive, an intermediatesupport frame 2! -'movably mounted on support frame 5, and a provisionshelf 28 movably supported on the movable support frame. In other words,the-framework 21-28 of the embodiment of Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive, takesthe place of the framework or shelf 4 of the embodiment of Figs. 2 to 8,inclusive, and thus, the former may be broadly designated as a-travelingprovision shelf or frame.

Since the stationary support frame 5 has been described in detailpreviously herein, similar and corresponding parts will be given thesame reference characters in the several views without furtherdescribing thesame in detail.

The movable or intermediate support frame 21 comprises side rails 29connected at their 'rear ends by a member 30. Rails 29 and members 39may be made from a single piece of round rod of stainless steel orrustless iron, bent in the form of a U, as shown; The rear ends of theside rails 29 may be provided with trunnions 3| and 32 of L-shape,welded or otherwise secured thereto.

As may be seen in Figs. 13, 14 and 15, the trun-.

nions are spaced longitudinally of the :rails and carry rollers orwheels 33 and 34. having concave rims to fit the contour of side rails!and 8 of the stationary support frame. Since these rollers are disposedabove and below, and to one side of.

r the side rails 3 and l in the manner indicated in the drawings, therails 29 will lie in substantiallythe same plane as rails 6 and l, andwill be spaced therefrom, horizontally, to permit free relative movementtherebetween. Side rails 29 also are supported forwardly of the wheelsor rollers 32 and 33 by the rollers H carried at the forward ends of.the side rails l and 8 of the stationary support frame (see Fig. 12).

The forward ends of the side rails 29 of the movable support frame, maybe provided with L-shaped trunnions 35 on which wheels or rollers a amb. the provision shelf is moved back and forth the side rails notspring out of position" and cause binding between and the supframeagainst Theplates 24 also overhang the side rails l2."

shelf side rails from the For this reason,"

. rails 38 connected foreand on which rollers movable support frame 21.Rollers the side 30 having concave rims, aremounted to the forward endof provisionvv shelf 28. i

In order to lim'itfthe of the support frame 1. stops. 3'! are attachedto theside rails I an?l 8' of the stationary support whic rollers 31 runwhen the" movable frame is in Fig. 9.

From the above; able or intermediate stationary support frame 5 aremounted'relative to each other andto the refrigerator side walls insubstantially the same manner as the provision shelf 4 and support frame5 of Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive, are mounted. The provision shelf 28 is sameconstruction as shelf 4, and comprises side aft by cross rods 39 andhaving a platform or floor made up from rods ll'-welded to the crossrods and rods l5 also welded thereto but having their ends bent upwardlyto form posts IE to which the fence rails -l|'- and 18' are attached. Asinithe case of provision shelf 5, the platform or floor rods extended totheposition shown above described may be 'braced by means of atransverse rod l9 welded or otherwise-secured to the bottom sides of thecross rods. The rear end of the provision shelf, is provided withtrunnions 40 attached to the side rails 38 4| are mounted to support therear end ofxthe shelf on the side rails 29 of the 4! maybe of yieldablematerial or of metal, as desired.

To prevent upward tilting of the rearend of the provision shelf aboutrollers 36 as fulcrums, a retaining rail 42 is attached to each of theside rails 28. The rear ends of these retaining rails are bentdownwardly and welded to falls 29 slightly ahead of trunnions 3|(seeFig. 9) and the forward ends are bent downwardly and welded to rails23 at points ahead of the middle thereof. As may be seen in Figs. 11, 16and 17, rollers It operate between the side rails 29 and the retainingrails 42. The retaining rails 42 and rails 29 form in effect a closedloop, the ends of which serve as stops to limit the forward and reversemovement of the provision shelf.

In order to prevent accidental upward tilting of the provision shelf, inthe operation of returning the same to the refrigerator compartment,clips 43 are removably secured, as with thumb screws 44 to the forwardends of side rails 29. These clipsoverhang side rails 38 at points aboveand slightly in advance of support rollers 36.

, In the operation of the shelf arrangement shown in Figs. 9 to 1'1inclusive, assuming the it is apparent that the movsupport frame 21 andthe of substantially the extent 6:, forward travel provision shelf to bewithin the compartment; the

side rails l and 8, and rollers ll of the stationary support frame untilrollers 33 engage stops 31, at

which time the provision shelf is fully extended as seen in Fig. 9. Inreturning the provision shelf to the compartment, the relative operationof the three main parts of the shelf structure is the same as abovedescribed, except the directionof motion.

thereof is reversed.

In both forms of shelf, the main parts of each lie in substantially thesame horizontal plane, the stationary and movable support frames areopen at the front, and the side rails of each are spaced is tiltedupwardly at the front and rolled back-' wards until therollers 20 and IIare disengaged from the support frame side rails.

In the form shown in Figs. 9 to 17 inclusive, after removal of plates21, the three major'parts of the shelving are removed as a unit bymerely tilting the forward ends thereof upwardly to disengage loops 8'from the side wall nubbins 2. The shelving may then be removed throughthe door opening of the refrigerator. The movable support frame 21 andshelf 28 may then be removed from the support frame 5 as a unit in thesame manner as the shelf 4, of the type shown in Figs. 2 to 8 inclusive,is removed from the support frame 5. Having detached the support frame 5from the movable support frame 21, the shelf 28 may be removed fromsupport frame 21 by merely turn ing or removing clip 43 and tilting theshelf upwardly at its forward end and at the same time turning itslightly sidewise so as to disengage one of the other of rollers 4| frombetween its accompanying rail 29 and guard rail 42.

While two forms of the invention have been shown and described herein,it wilkbe apparent to those skilled in this particular art that variousmodifications and changes may be made therein without departing eitherfrom the spirit or the scope of the invention. It is desired, therefore,that only such limitations shall be placed on the invention as areimposed by the prior art and the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A sliding shelf for refrigerator compartments including a supportframe consisting of a back rail and side rails' adapted for mounting onthe walls of a refrigerator compartment, a provision shelf havinga pairof rollers at each of its rear corners, a roller of each pair running ontop of its accompanying side rail, and the other roller of each pairrunning under its accompanying side rail, and a roller at the forwardend of each side rail for supporting the shelf as it is moved into andout of thecompartment, there.

being an upwardly extending loop adjacent a forward end of each siderail which serves both as means for hanging the rails on projections onthe compartment side walls and as a stop for limiting outward movementof the shelf.

2. In a sliding shelf structure, the combination of a support framehaving back. and side rails for mounting on the walls of a compartment,a traveling frame having a pair of rollers adjacent each of its rearcorners, a roller of each pair being mounted to run on top of anadjacent side rail of said support frame, and the other roller of eachpair being mounted for running underneath said adjacent side rail, saidsupport frame having a roller adjacent its forward end, said rollersmovably supporting said traveling frame, so that said framemay be movedinto and out of the compartment, means mounted on the side rails of saidsupport frame adjacent the front thereof, said means co-operating withsides of said traveling aosaeeo frame for normally preventing an upwardtilt of said frame, said last-mentioned means permitting an upward tiltof said traveling frame when it is to be removed from said supportframe.

3. In a sliding shelf structure of wire-like construction, thecombination of a support frame formed from wire and having back and siderails for mounting on the walls of a compartment, a travelingmember'formed from wire and having a pair of rollers adjacent its rearcorners, said traveling member having suitable side rails, a roller ofeach pair being mounted for running on top of an adJacent side rail ofsaid support frame, the other roller of each pair being mounted forrunning underneath said side rail of said support frame, so that saidtraveling member may be moved into and out of the compartment, stopmeans for limiting outward movement of 881d traveling member, inwardlyprojecting fingers mounted adjacent forward ends of the side rails ofsaid support frame, said fingers overhanging adjacent side rails of saidtraveling member for preventing an upward tilt of said member. 4. In asliding shelf structure, the combination of a support frame includingside rails adapted to lie along the side of a compartment and beingconnected at one end thereof by a cross bar, a traveling framehavingrollers adjacent one end thereof for running on the side rails ofsaid support frame, means adjacent the front end of said support framefor limiting outward movement of said traveling frame on said supportframe, said support frame having rollers adjacent the front thereof forrunning on said traveling frame, means co-operating with saidlast-mentioned rollers for preventing an upward tilt of said travelingframe with respect to said support frame, a traveling shelf having siderails and rollers mounted thereon for running on side rails of saidtraveling frame, rollers mounted on said traveling frame adjacent thefront end thereof for running on the side rails of said traveling shelf,and means for limiting outward movement of said traveling frame withrespect to said support frame and of said traveling shelf with respectto said traveling frame.

5. In a sliding shelf structure, the combination of a shelf supportmember and a sheif member movably mounted thereon, said support memberand said shelf having suitable side rails, a pair of rollers mounted onsaid shelf member and having a staggered relationship with respect toeach other, one of said rollers being mounted for running'on one side ofa side rail of said support member, the other roller of said pair beingmounted for running on an opposite side of said side rail, said rollershaving a staggered relationship with respect to each other, so that saidshelf member may be readily removed from and remounted on said supportmember when pushed beyond the side rails of said support member.

6 In a sliding shelf structure, the combination of a shelf supportmember and a shelf member movably mounted thereon, said shelf member andsaid shelf support member having suitable side rails and suitable rearconnecting rails, a pair of rollers mounted on at least one of the siderails of said shelf member, one of said rollers being mounted forrunning on top of an adjacent side rail of said support member, theother roller of said pair being mounted for running underneath said siderail, said rollers having a staggered relationship with respect to eachother, so that said shelf may be readily removed from and remounted onsaid side rail of said support member when pushed beyond the length ofsaid side rail, at least one roller mounted on a side rail of saidsupport member for running on a side rail of said shelf member,

so that said shelf member may be readily moved with respect to saidsupport member.

7. In a sliding shelf structure, .the combination of a shelf supportmember and a shelf member movably mounted thereon, member and said shelfmember having suitable side rails, and means mounted on the side railsof both of said members for slidably supporting one with respect to theother, and means pivotally mounted on the side rails of said supportmember and co-operating with the side rails of said shelf member forpreventing an upward tilt of said shelf member with respect to saidsupport member and for permitting a removal of said shelf member fromsaid support member.

8. In a sliding'shelf structure, the combination of an assembly whichincludes a support member and a shelf member movably mounted thereon,said support member and said shelf member having suitable side rails,means mounted on said assembly for slidably supporting one member withrespect to the other, means on said' support member for pressing theside rails thereof toward side walls of a compartment, and means'mountedon said assembly and co-operating with the walls of the compartmentforspacing the side rails of said support member with respect thereto,said last-mentioned means having an extending portion for preventing oneof .said members'from tilting with respect to the .other of saidmembers.

9. Inc. compartment having support projections incorporated in its wallmake-up, the support projections of a rear wall of the compartmenthaving recesses. therein, and the support projections of side walls of ithe compartment having shoulders thereon, the combination of a movableshelf structure, said structure including asupport, frame and a shelfmovably mounted thereon, said support frame having side members and arear bar connecting said side members, said rear bar having rearwardlyextending loops adapted to fit within the recessed support projectionsof the rear wall, so that said support frame may be non-tiltably mountedin the compartment adjacent the rear thereof, the side rails of saidsupport structure having extending bends for co-operating with andresting upon the shouldered support partment side walls.

10. In a compartment having support projections incorporated in its wallmake-up, the support projections of a rear wall of' the compartmenthaving recesses therein, the support projections of side walls of thecompartment having shoulders thereon, the combination of a sliding shelfstructure, said structure including a support frame and a shelf slidablymounted thereon, said support frame having side members and arear barconnecting said side ,mem-

said supportplate means being projections of the combers, said rear barhaving rearwardly extending loops adapted to fit within the recessedsupport projections of the compartment rear wall, so that said supportframe will be non-tiltably mounted in the compartment adjacent the rearend thereof, the side rails of said support frame having upwardlyextending bends adapted to co-operate with the shouldered supportprojections of the compartment side walls, means mounted on said slidingshelf structure for slidably supporting said shelf with respect to saidsupport frame, the parts of said structure having' such a relationshipthat the upward bends of the side rails of said support frame will actas stops for limiting outward movement of said shelf with respect tosaid support frame.

11. In a sliding shelf structure of wire-like construction, thecombination of an assembly which includes a support member and a shelfmember movably mounted thereon, said support member and shelf memberbeing formed of wire and having suitable side rails, means on saidassembly for slidably supporting one member with respect tothe other,means on said support member for pressing. the side rails thereof towardside walls of a compartment, a detachable plate means mounted on saidassembly and cooperating with the walls of the compartment for spacingthe side rails of said support member with respect thereto.

12. In a sliding shelf structure of wire-like construction, thecombination of an assembly which includes a support member and a shelfmember movably mounted thereon, said support member and shelf memberhaving suitable side rails, means on said assembly for slidablysupporting one member with respect to the other, means on said supportmember for pressing the side rails thereof toward side walls of acompartment, triangular-shaped plate means mounted on the side rails ofsaid support member, base portions of said triangular-shaped adapted toabut wallsiof the compartment and space .the side rails of said supportmember with respect thereto, and apices of said triangular plate meansbeing adapted to extend inwardly of the compartment for preventing saidshelf member from tilting with respect to said support member.

13. In a sliding shelf structure, the combina* tionof a shelf supportmember and a shelf member mounted thereon, said support member and saidshelf member having suitable side rails and cross rails-connecting theirrespective side rails, means slidably mounting said shelf member uponsaid support member, said means infrom said last-mentioned side rail formaintainingsaid guide means ina proper relationship with respect theretoduring the operation of said shelf structure.

J OTHO M. O'I'I'E.

